HONG KONG
A controversy over alleged interference from the government in the appointment of a senior official at the University of Hong Kong continues to bubble away, with the head of the student union on Monday calling for a sit in.
Billy Fung told a radio program that students would hold the sit-in outside a university council meeting Tuesday, and demand the body's chairman publicly explain whether the government had tried to block the appointment of former HKU law dean Johannes Chan, public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) reported today.
Chan has been a target of Beijing-loyal press over his involvement in a pro-democracy think tank. And Chief Executive CY Leung's adviser, Sophia Kao, has admitted to discussing with unidentified people whether Chan was fit for the position, the South China Morning Post reported Monday.
Student leader Fung said a series of recent events signaled that Leung’s government had meddled in the affairs of the city's top university.
He cited the chief executive’s criticism of the student union magazine in his policy address last month, the apparent attempts to block Chan's appointment, and reports Leung had blocked the awarding of honorary degrees to some people.
Leung had slammed the student union publications for “putting forward fallacies” concerning the concept of Hong Kong as a nation and self-determination for Hong Kong people.
Fung, responding to Leung’s criticisms, said the authors were merely exploring different ideas for the way forward for the city.
“The students are proposing some academically sound ideas. I would say there is little problem – actually no problem at all – in doing that,” he said, according the Post.
A Facebook event page for the sit in with the words "Hong Kong University autonomy, Never accept interference" on its banner photo showed that 72 people had signed up for the protest.
"We are worried Hong Kong universities will become like those in the mainland [China], where only Beijing toadies can fill top positions," a student told The Anadolu Agency on the condition her name not be published.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, "toadies" are a person who praises and helps powerful people in order to get their approval.
Student leader Fung did not immediately reply to enquiries from AA.
